'Sedum montanum...'

Botanical study, Sedum montanum [Sempervivum arachnoideum] in flower with foreground detail. Commonly called the mountain woolly houseleek or cobweb houseleek [described in Philip Millers, Gardeners’ dictionary, 1735], the artist shows the fine inter-leaf filaments producing the cobweb effect, from which the plant takes its name. Inscribed in ink: “SEDUM montanum tomento sum C.B.P. Cobweb Houseleek.” Signed lower right; “G.D.Ehret pinxit”. Inscibed verso, lower right, “1753”. Pencil inscription verso: “2778/4”.